Side note... and really a douche thing to ask... Pekka Rinne is injurred, and seemingly not for long. I think its pretty obvious right now he is the Vezina favorite and there is no #2 that can even catch him. How much of an absence would be needed for his lead to be lost due to missed games? I see Fleury as in the top 3 after Rinne so I am curious.

Only example I have is the year Letang didn't win the Norris due to missed games. I still think that he deserved the win with the same (or was it 1 less) points and near the same +- with 10 less games. Means he was better on average, but history shows the voting goes for those who don't miss games.
- Guile

To be perfectly honest, I really don't think the hockey world will ever give Fleury his due after his World Jr gaffe. Fleury would have to have five more wins, 2+ shutouts, and better numbers than Rask, Rinne, and Hank to get first-place votes. If there was a contender to Fleury under those circumstances who had played less games and was in the ballpark, I think the benefit would go against Fleury while the same benefit would not be extended. Voters would claim that goalie X didn't have the superstar support that Fleury does, or that he just has to be average to win games. They'll keep Fleury in his familiar role of figure in the carpet - at least as the regular season is concerned.

Side note... and really a douche thing to ask... Pekka Rinne is injurred, and seemingly not for long. I think its pretty obvious right now he is the Vezina favorite and there is no #2 that can even catch him. How much of an absence would be needed for his lead to be lost due to missed games? I see Fleury as in the top 3 after Rinne so I am curious.

Only example I have is the year Letang didn't win the Norris due to missed games. I still think that he deserved the win with the same (or was it 1 less) points and near the same +- with 10 less games. Means he was better on average, but history shows the voting goes for those who don't miss games.
- Guile

To be honest, I had Rinne as the runaway winner with a bunch of guys close together behind him. Howard, Crawford, Fleury, Holtby, and Price specifically. Rinne and Howard are both expected to be out for upwards of a month, which leaves Crawford, Fleury, Holtby, and Price to battle it out. Rinne might have a chance to stay in the conversation because he has a few games played in hand over everyone but Holtby, and when he comes back he will probably play most games, so even if he misses a month he is still going to probably be within 5-10 games played of the other goalies in consideration. Crawford is pretty far behind everyone in games played, so if that margin widens even more it could come down to Fleury, Holtby, and Price.

To be honest, I had Rinne as the runaway winner with a bunch of guys close together behind him. Howard, Crawford, Fleury, Holtby, and Price specifically. Rinne and Howard are both expected to be out for upwards of a month, which leaves Crawford, Fleury, Holtby, and Price to battle it out. Rinne might have a chance to stay in the conversation because he has a few games played in hand over everyone but Holtby, and when he comes back he will probably play most games, so even if he misses a month he is still going to probably be within 5-10 games played of the other goalies in consideration. Crawford is pretty far behind everyone in games played, so if that margin widens even more it could come down to Fleury, Holtby, and Price.
- PensFan1103

Don't think for even a second that the professional hockey writer's association won't trip over themselves to award Price the Vezina. That community has wanted to write Price's name into the history books over Fleury's form some time.

Flower going to the all star game may just be a great little break for him - not thinking about Pens & doing something completely different in a festive atmosphere. I think it will help not hinder his season.

I wish I had a dollar (even Canadian) for every time Jagr gets brought up. I would be considerably wealthier. Old man Jagr is happy where he is, uncle Lou takes care of him & keeps the media out of his life. Imagine if Jagr came to play at the Pens & Madden reported the extra curricular activities of Jagr with the Dwarfs & show girls??

Good test tomorrow V the Islanders. Looking forward to it.

Go Pens.

I believe due to JR/HCMJ's comments, that Dumoulin would be up over Puliot for the time being. So that would be my only swap in your pairings.
- Guile

Yep. He straight up said that Harrington and Dumoulin are closer to being ready than Pouliot. Which was apparent from watching them all, as well.

Imagine if Jagr came to play at the Pens & Madden reported the extra curricular activities of Jagr with the Dwarfs & show girls??

- Aussiepenguin

Plus, Atlantic City is swankier than Rivers Casino.

couple of thoughts

1. flower is very delicate....i really dont want anything to change for him......net minders are very sensitive beings......he might let in a bad goal during the all star game and since the whole u.s. is watching, ruin him for the rest of the year.

2. No on JAGR.

3. dont know much about arcobello but i dont care what anyone says...we can always use help. this team seems to get injured if someone farts the wrong way. cant ever have enough depth.

4. No ON JAGR.

Yep. He straight up said that Harrington and Dumoulin are closer to being ready than Pouliot. Which was apparent from watching them all, as well.
- hardnosed

So... pretty much Pouliot "should" be better than both, they just want to fine tune him more. I hate that logic and process, but I fully trust their upbringing Dmen.

I get that Martin is a good player, but what i don't understand is the extreme one side or another on how the Penguins can't win a Cup without Martin.
- cap1681

Because Letang is destined to be injured at some point and we will need him. It always happens.

Flower going to the all star game may just be a great little break for him - not thinking about Pens & doing something completely different in a festive atmosphere. I think it will help not hinder his season.

I wish I had a dollar (even Canadian) for every time Jagr gets brought up. I would be considerably wealthier. Old man Jagr is happy where he is, uncle Lou takes care of him & keeps the media out of his life. Imagine if Jagr came to play at the Pens & Madden reported the extra curricular activities of Jagr with the Dwarfs & show girls??

Good test tomorrow V the Islanders. Looking forward to it.

Go Pens.
- Aussiepenguin

I would rather have Fleury stay home and get rest than go to the All-Star Game.

I would rather have Fleury stay home and get rest than go to the All-Star Game.
- Oneonta Penguin

Yep.

Plus, I have a feeling that the all-star game is going to be one big mumps sharing cesspool.

I would rather have Fleury stay home and get rest than go to the All-Star Game.
- Oneonta Penguin

Penguins have 5 days off during the All-Star break. 20 minutes of work isn't going to tire him out. And it's not like he was planning on hibernating in a hyperbaric chamber if he wasn't participating.

And besides, dude's excited and with good reason.

http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=748853

These players are human...they're not automatons that must be optimally handled 24/7/365.

couple of thoughts

1. flower is very delicate....i really dont want anything to change for him......net minders are very sensitive beings......he might let in a bad goal during the all star game and since the whole u.s. is watching, ruin him for the rest of the year.

2. No on JAGR.

3. dont know much about arcobello but i dont care what anyone says...we can always use help. this team seems to get injured if someone farts the wrong way. cant ever have enough depth.

4. No ON JAGR.
- pensfan024

Hey, just to be clear, what is your opinion on Jagr?

Paul Martin back to New Jersey for Jaromir Jagr. Martin would likely re-sign; Jagr less likely. Therefore a conditional pick (4th, 3rd, whatever) to New Jersey if Jagr re-signs.
- Johnny Wrath

Do you seriously think PMart would approve a deal to NJ? I don't. That franchise is going nowhere for the many years to come. It's old and not talented at all. I would think he would rather go to a team that has a chance to at least compete for a title, not a top five pick.

The infatuation with Jagr is odd. He isn't needed here. Get everyone healthy and let it roll. I can't stand trading for rentals, especially those over the age of 42, or have the first name Jarome.

Do you seriously think PMart would approve a deal to NJ? I don't. That franchise is going nowhere for the many years to come. It's old and not talented at all. I would think he would rather go to a team that has a chance to at least compete for a title, not a top five pick.

The infatuation with Jagr is odd. He isn't needed here. Get everyone healthy and let it roll. I can't stand trading for rentals, especially those over the age of 42, or have the first name Jarome.
- Oneonta Penguin

I only like rentals if they are under 30 and could potentially be a long term fit. It's risky, but a guy like Tlusty, depending on the cost could be a cheap-ish Jussi Jokinen type winger for us if we re-signed him.

BREAKING NEWS: Nick Spaling is Amish.

Just read that in an article from DK...how weird, I would have never known.

Do you seriously think PMart would approve a deal to NJ? I don't. That franchise is going nowhere for the many years to come. It's old and not talented at all. I would think he would rather go to a team that has a chance to at least compete for a title, not a top five pick.

The infatuation with Jagr is odd. He isn't needed here. Get everyone healthy and let it roll. I can't stand trading for rentals, especially those over the age of 42, or have the first name Jarome.
- Oneonta Penguin

seriously. lets get healthy and lets let it ride. if this team is as good as they think they are, they have the secondary guys in place right now to do it. hornqvist, perron, kunitz, bennet/comeau is as solid as a top 6 as they have had in a long time. similarly, the bottom six looks like it can at the very least tread water enough to be competitive. it will all come down to fleury playing like he is right now in the post season, and the stars stepping up to what they need to be.

I only like rentals if they are under 30 and could potentially be a long term fit. It's risky, but a guy like Tlusty, depending on the cost could be a cheap-ish Jussi Jokinen type winger for us if we re-signed him.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

i really wanted tlusty, but i dont feel the pressing need to add a guy right now.

if he could be had for a goc type deal, then i would be open to it. but if the asking price is harrington, its just not worth it to me right now.

i understand you have to give to get, and carolina could just as easily hang up the phone. thats fine. in my opinion, it just makes more sense to hang onto the assets right now. i hate losing another first, but for a young guy like perron with another year left i would make that every time its there. but as it stands, the pieces are there for this roster.

i really wanted tlusty, but i dont feel the pressing need to add a guy right now.

if he could be had for a goc type deal, then i would be open to it. but if the asking price is harrington, its just not worth it to me right now.

i understand you have to give to get, and carolina could just as easily hang up the phone. thats fine. in my opinion, it just makes more sense to hang onto the assets right now. i hate losing another first, but for a young guy like perron with another year left i would make that every time its there. but as it stands, the pieces are there for this roster.
- stayinthefnnet

And any trade requires salary out....

I'd honestly trade Spaling for a rental if we found the appropriate rental. But of course, HCMJ went out and made a bunch of compliments about Spaling the other day.

And any trade requires salary out....

I'd honestly trade Spaling for a rental if we found the appropriate rental. But of course, HCMJ went out and made a bunch of compliments about Spaling the other day.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

yeah. but just being realistic, i cant see why a team would want that. i mean spaling is competent. probably overpaid by around 750k, but he is a decent enough depth guy. nothing great but he wont kill you. but at the same time, i cant see why if i was a team i would view acquiring him as a priority for the future.

but yeah. trades do require salary going out like you said. and for that reason too (as well as holding onto futures) i would rather just rock and roll with what they have.

if that means losing paul martin in the offseason for nothing, then so be it.

yeah. but just being realistic, i cant see why a team would want that. i mean spaling is competent. probably overpaid by around 750k, but he is a decent enough depth guy. nothing great but he wont kill you. but at the same time, i cant see why if i was a team i would view acquiring him as a priority for the future.

but yeah. trades do require salary going out like you said. and for that reason too (as well as holding onto futures) i would rather just rock and roll with what they have.

if that means losing paul martin in the offseason for nothing, then so be it.
- stayinthefnnet

I'm cool with that too, especially when Comeau and Horny are back. Likely our roster is pretty complete. There's even a slight chance Mark Ark turns out to mesh well with Goc on the 4th line.

Only thing I think is a "need" is another big, tough player somewhere on the roster. Anything else would just be a luxury...haven't talked like this since right before 2012 postseason

random but whats up with Belesky being scratched in Anaheim? He was their leading scorer so I'm not about to start dreaming up a trade scenario....or am i?

I'm cool with that too, especially when Comeau and Horny are back. Likely our roster is pretty complete. There's even a slight chance Mark Ark turns out to mesh well with Goc on the 4th line.

Only thing I think is a "need" is another big, tough player somewhere on the roster. Anything else would just be a luxury...haven't talked like this since right before 2012 postseason
- YouMeAndDupuis9

honestly, i really wasnt too amped on the pens post season chances this year. but perron really strikes me as the move that could pay big dividends.

if they can get healthy, this core really has no excuses right now.

im not saying cup or bust, but i am saying at least a lengthy run with a respectable ousting or bust.

I'm cool with that too, especially when Comeau and Horny are back. Likely our roster is pretty complete. There's even a slight chance Mark Ark turns out to mesh well with Goc on the 4th line.

Only thing I think is a "need" is another big, tough player somewhere on the roster. Anything else would just be a luxury...haven't talked like this since right before 2012 postseason
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Off season move - what time is it?

Interesting on TV last night...

If one MAF keeps up his current win pace and can win another Cup, that would almost make him a lock for the HHOF.

He's have a boatload of wins, 3 Cup appearances, and 2 Cups to his name.

That wouldn't be too bad.

Just sayin....